The first small steps to creating a national forensic DNA data bank were announced by the Ministry of Justice via a press release last week.According to the Ministry of Justice, Kevin Noppinger, a former lab director of Florida-based DNA Labs International will provide technical and managerial support to create the long overdue data bank.For years now, crime scenes have been characterised by the careful forensic gathering of DNA evidence by suitably dressed investigative officers.
While there is a laboratory, Genix Diagnostics, offering DNA analysis and diagnostics in T&T, DNA samples are still sent to the UK for testing.The public DNA testing centre was described as understaffed and lagging behind the highest modern standards for the science as early as March 2013, and there is a serious backlog of samples awaiting profiling and analysis.
There have been complaints of compromised evidence because of inadequate and poorly maintained storage and overwhelmed facilities unable to cope with the volume of samples collected.DNA testing, even in perfect circumstances, takes time to complete and in serious crime cases, is often found in a state of degradation, which can significantly lengthen analysis times.
A revision to the 2011 DNA Act, originally passed in the Lower House in November 2011, would enable the establishment of the local DNA data bank and strengthen the act by allowing DNA samples to be taken without the consent of a suspect.These two changes would entirely change the face of existing DNA collection and evidence capture and are critical to establishing a modern and scientific basis for prosecution and verification using proven systems to conclusively place suspects at the scene of crimes.
T&T is now on the verge of implementing a proper, science-based evidence collection and processing system that would improve dramatically the fairness, speed and accuracy of the criminal justice system.In November 2011, so hyped was he by the prospect of the DNA Bill becoming law that then Justice Minister Herbert Volney declared, "When the crime is done we will catch everyone of them once they leave any sort of presence on the scene of the crime."
It's certainly been the case that the obverse has proven to be true. In the absence of any serious effort at establishing science-based evidence analysis utilising DNA profiling, most "of them" are getting away with heinous crimes.Attorney General Anand Ramlogan was also keen on the system, planning to have anyone deported back to T&T DNA "fingerprinted." The AG noted in April, that "our criminals are enterprising and ingenious, it's a chess game...and they seem to be outmaneuvering us."
The next steps in the process are clear. The amendments to the act need to be passed and for a proper support system implemented to begin the process of engineering an environment in which the fairness of the justice system will proceed on a bedrock of scientific certainty.Mr Noppinger's role in this is welcomed, as will clear and decisive action by the relevant authorities to make this lingering project an operational reality.